The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-03
Prison Labor.
To Me Editor Of Me Press:

10 The Editor Of the Press:
PORTLAND, Jan. l, 1887.
am very glad to see the discussion in re-
gard to prison labor. 1t is just what the
manufacturers Of the State desire that the
subject may be brought to the hearing Of
every citizen throughout the State. We
complain in the first place Of the State as a
manufacturer, employing its criminals In
manufacturing goods and placing them for
sale in the best markets Of our State in COM
petition with goods manufactured by free
labor We claim that no matter what the
price or quality 1t has tendency to unsettle
values and demoralize honest labor; that it
is wrong in principle and is working serious
injury to the industries Of the State. For
the prisoners to be kept at work simply that
when they have served their time or sentence
out they have trade to enable them to earn
living is very philanthropic no doubt. but
does 1t not seem little singular that two Of
Names most important industries should
have been selected to bear the brunt Of the
battle?l Why should these two industries pay
the tax for supporting the prison institutions.
Would 1t not be more equitable to divide the
thing up little more. The impression Is
given out in the report Of the inspectors that
all the work is done by hand and by the
stotceSt process, adopted in order to keep
prod uction dotcn to the lotoest point. That
is all bOsh. Erery part is not made by
hand The prison is run as every man runs his
business to make it pay II possible and every
means is resorted to, to cheaper the cost ofits
production and turn out the largest amount
possible with its unskilled labor. 1t pur-
chaSeS all Its axleS, springs, bolts. chips and
all manner Of cheap forging possible, all its
wheels, bones, etc, and nearly all its goods
from out Of the State. So even In that line
no business Of any citizen Is bcneitted TO
any extent by furnishing those articles TO
the prison. The percentage of its prOdue-
tlons to the total amount used in the State
may not be over five per cent, but by far the
greater part Of itslproduction finds its way in
to the larger places which are the best mark
cts. Portland has received particular atten-
tion Tor the past two years. We would like
TO enquire how large percentage IL has re-
builders we know well. A great point is
made that no machinery Is used in the pris-
on. How many of the carriage or harness
builders OF Maine have machinery In their
factories? venture the assertion that out
side Of my own there Is not one equipped
with power and "a full complement OF ma
chinery. Other States are now waking up TO
this wrong. l do not care how the goods
are produced, whether by the State itself on
its own account or by contract system, the
principle Is all wrong and an injury TO free
labor, In New York State under the con-
tract system Of convict labor great injury
has resulted to many branches Of fmachanical
business and the Manufacturers and Work
lngmen's Protective League are taking ae-
tive measures to get relief from the Legisla-
ture.
Shall Maine with its motto "Dirigo" be be-
hind in this subject Of so much Importance to
many Of its citizens? | trust that when the
matter Is fully understood she will be found
ready to meet the question fairly and afford
the relief asked for.
Respectfully,
z. THOMPSON, JR.